Refers to sexual purity, moral integrity, and faithfulness, especially in a marital context. Often used in formal or literary settings.
彼女は貞操を守り通した。
She remained chaste throughout her life.
貞操の観念は時代とともに変化してきた。
The concept of chastity has changed over time.
貞操 refers narrowly to sexual fidelity or chastity, while 節操 covers moral steadfastness in general, not just sexual matters.
chastity belt
chaste; faithful
sense of chastity; moral sense regarding sexual fidelity
rape; violation of chastity
Composed of 貞 (てい, 'chastity, virtue') and 操 (そう, 'principle, fidelity'). The combination has been used in Japanese to denote moral integrity and sexual purity since at least the early modern period.